Time coded, coin control gate system

ABSTRACT

The exit gate of a vehicle parking facility is opened in response to deposit of the proper coinage in a multiprice, coin mechanism. The coinage value is set and read out in suitable form when a time encoded card is inserted into a card receiving unit. The card is withdrawn by the vehicle operator from a ticket dispenser when entering the parking facility.

I United States Patent 1151 3,641,314 Abramson 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] TIMECODED, COIN CONTROL GATE [56] References Cited SYSTEM UNITED STATESPATENTS [721 lnvemofi Abmmson, Audubon SM 3,484,586 12/1969 Wilson et al194/9 R x New Orleans, La. 701 18 [22 Filed: Apr. 0 7 PrimaryExaminer-Daryl W. COOK Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B.Jacobson [21] Appl. No.: 27,347

[ ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..235/6l.8 A, 340/51 The exit gate of a vehicleparking facility is opened in response [51] Int. Cl ..G06k 15/18,G08g1/14 t deposi of the prop r in g in a m l iprice. coin 58 Field ofSearch ..194/D1G. 23, 4, 9; 235/61.6 R, mechanism- The coinage value isset and read out in suitable 235/61.7 B; 340/51, 31, 149 A; 179/90 CSform when a time encoded card is inserted into a card receiving unit.The card is withdrawn by the vehicle operator from a ticket dispenserwhen entering the parking facility.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 7 50 48 Card I De coding D/rcuit ClockReader C/rcuits Selector Drive c i Mu/ti-price Display AcceptorACCUmU/afof Device w 56 I j v Exit Gate Operator 7 PATENTEUFEB 8 I972SHEET 1 OF 2 Fig Fig. 3

7 5o 48 Card M De coding Circuit A C/oc/r Reader Circuits Selector DriveC in Mu/fiprice p Q Acceptor i ACcUmU/Gfol' Device 56 I j v Exit GareOpera/or 75 m Uncoded 25 Caro F. I o a or clqck Enact/mg Aaron L.Abromeon Dr/ ve Dev/Ce IN l//;/\/ 1 0R.

BY M I! a Admission y 3 I g Gofe W e Operator TIME CODED, COIN CONTROLGATE SYSTEM This invention relates to automatically controlled accessand exit to and from parking lots or the like.

Gate controlling systems for parking facilities are well known as wellas parking time metering systems for determining the appropriate parkingcharge. Despite the use of such systems, parking facilities requirepersonnel for collecting the appropriate parking charge. The onlyinstant where collection of parking charges by personnel is eliminated,is where the vehicle operator is required to deposit a fixed amount ofcoinage in a parking meter for a preset period of time. It is thereforean important object of the present invention to provide an automaticsystem for parking facilities utilizing commercially available parkinglot components whereby a vehicle may park for any desired length of timeand the appropriate parking charge may be collected upon departure ofthe vehicle from the parking facility without the use of any personnel.

In accordance with the present invention, a vehicle operator withdraws atime encoded card from a ticket dispenser when entering the parkingfacility. Withdrawal of the time encoded card from the dispenser opensan entrance gate. When leaving the parking facility, the time encodedcard is inserted into a ticket receiver within which the time record isdecoded by means of signal path selecting decoders and compared with thecurrent time in order to compute the parking charge in accordance with agiven parking charge rate by selection of pricing circuits associatedwith a commercially available coin acceptor machine. The parking chargeis then read out by registration, on a display panel, for example, toinform the vehicle operator so that he may insert the proper amount ofcoinage or other exchange medium into a coin machine through whichoperation of the exit gate is controlled.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a typical apparatus layout for aparking control system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a portion of theparking control system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the remaining portionof the parking control system.

FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram corresponding to the system asschematically illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1, theentrance and exit layout for a typical parking facility is illustratedwhether it be an open parking lot or a closed parking building. Anentrance passageway generally referred to by reference numeral leads tothe parking zones and is of a width to pennit passage of an automotivevehicle. The passageway 10 is normally blocked by a gate 12 that extendsfrom a gate operating mechanism 14 of any well-known type. An example ofsuch a gate operating mechanism is Model 400 PL Gate manufactured byParking Controls Division of Western Industries, Incorporated, ofChicago, Ill. A similar operating mechanism 16 for an exit gate 18 ismounted so that the exit gate 18 normally blocks exit from an exitpassageway 20. Detectors 22 and 24 are associated with the gateoperating mechanism in order to effect closing of the gates when avehicle passes through the entrance passageway 10 or leaves the exitpassageway 20. Either a treadle-type detector or a presence-typedetector, both of which are commercially available could be used.

Opening of the entrance gate 12 is effected upon withdrawal of a recordmedium in the form of a ticket or card from a ticket dispenser 26positioned on one side of the entrance passageway 10 in front of theentrance gate operating mechanism 14 as depicted in FIG. 1. Ticketdispensers of this type are also well known, as for example Model TD2.56 RC-WTP-, manufactured by Parking Controls Division of WesternIndustries, Inc. aforementioned. A detector 21 positioned forwardly ofthe dispenser is operative to time code a card and partially eject itwhen a vehicle passes over the detector. This type of ticket dispenseras diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2, includes a supply of uncodedcards 28 each of which is time coded by a time encoding device 30, thetime encoding device being driven by a clock drive 32. Withdrawal of thepartially ejected, time coded card effects opening of the entrance gate12 through the gate operating mechanism 14.

The exit gate 18 is also opened by its gate operating mechanism 16 whena proper exchange medium is deposited into a machine 34 positioned infront of the gate operating mechanism 16 in the direction of travel asshown in FIG. 1. The machine 34 controlling operation of the gateoperating mechanism may be of a commercial type of coin acceptingmachine such as 13-03-005 Multiprice SCS Accumulator, manufactured byNational Rejectors, Inc. The price associated with the machine 34 is setunder control of a ticket receiver 36 mounted adjacent thereto and intowhich the time coded card is adapted to be inserted by the vehicleoperator as the vehicle enters the exit passageway 20. Upon insertion ofthe time coded card, not only is the coin machine 34 set to accept anamount of coinage dependent upon the parking time but the correspondingparking charge is visually displayed on a display panel 38 appropriatelypositioned for viewing by the vehicle operator when entering the exitpassageway 20. Thus, the vehicle operator is informed of the correctamount of coinage to deposit in the coin machine 34 necessary to causeopening operation of the exit gate 18.

As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, the ticket receiver 36 includes acard reader component 40 into which a time coded card 42 is adapted tobe inserted. When inserted, time signals derived from the coding on thecard 42 are generated by the reader 40 and decoded by the decodingcomponent 44. The decoded timing signals are compared with the output ofa clock drive 48 by a circuit selector component 50 in order todetermine the elapsed time between entrance and exit from the parkingfacility. Based upon the elapsed time, the coin machine is set. At thesame time, the corresponding parking charge is displayed by the device38 as aforementioned. Thus, upon deposit of the proper amount of coinage56 as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, into the coin acceptor 52, theaccumulator 54 is operative to open the exit gate 18 through the exitgate operating mechanism 16.

It will be apparent, that the card 42 withdrawn from the ticketdispenser is one form of time coded record medium that may be utilizedin accordance with the present invention. The coding of the recordmedium may take various forms including magnetic coding, hole punching,or edge notching 58 as shown in FIG. 3. The reader component 40 must ofcourse be capable of reading the particular type of coding utilized.With respect to the coin machine and the coinage 56 adapted to beinserted thereinto, it should also be appreciated that other exchangemedium may be utilized including tokens and paper currency withappropriate apparatus for handling the particular type of exchangemedium utilized.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of logic apparatus designed to handlecards 42 time coded by notches 58. Where no more than four time codingnotches 58 are provided on one edge 60 of card 42 as shown in FIG. 4,different combinations of notches at the four numbered locationscorrespond to 12 time periods as shown for example on the followingcoding chart:

ll X X X When the time coded card is inserted into the reader component40, the edge 60 will open four normally closed, notch sensing switches62 if no notch 58 is formed on the coded edge 60 in alignment with anassociated switch. The sensing switches 62 are connected in parallel tothe stationary contact of a normally opened card sensing switch 64adapted to be closed by the edge 60 whenever a card is inserted in orderto connect each of the sensing switches 62 to one of the power lines 66connected to a suitable source of electrical energy. The stationarycontacts associated with the sensing switches 62 are connected to signaloutput lines 68. The signal output line 68 associated with the numberfour position sensing switch is connected to one side of a relay coil70, the other side of which is connected to the other power line 72.Relay coil 70 controls a plurality of relay switches 74 normally engagedwith contacts connected to three input signal lines 76 to a decodingcircuit 78. The normally disengaged contacts associated with the relayswitches 74, are connected through three signal input lines 80 to asecond decoding circuit 82. Thus, the sensing switch 62 associated withposition No. 4, controls the coding circuit through which signals aretransmitted from the reader component 40.

Each of the decoding circuits 78 and 82 are similar in arrangement andoperation. Referring for example to the decoding circuit 78, the signaloutput lines 68 from the sensing switches associated with notchpositions 1, 2 and 3, are connected to three relay coils 84, 86 and 88.Thus, when the card 42 is inserted, any one or more of the relay coils84, 86 and 88 connected to the power line 72 will be energized in orderto actuate associated relay switches. The relay coil 84 is associatedwith a relay switch 90 normally engaging a contact connected to a relayswitch 92 associated with the relay coil 86. A second relay switch 94 isassociated with the relay coil 84 normally disengaged from a contactconnected to a second relay switch 96 associated with the relay coil 86.A third relay switch 98 is associated with relay coil 84 normallyengaging a contact connected to a third relay switch 100 associated withthe second relay coil 86. The normally disengaged contact associatedwith the relay switch 96 is connected to a first relay switch 102associated with the third relay coil 88 while the normally engagedcontact associated with the relay switch 96 is connected to the secondrelay switch 104 associated with relay coil 88. A third relay switch 106associated with relay coil 88 is connected to the normally disengagedcontact associated with relay switch 100. Six output signal linestherefore extend from the normally disengaged contact of relay switch90, normally disengaged contact of relay switch 92, normally engagedcontact of relay switch 92, normally engaged contact of relay switch102, normally engaged contact of relay switch 104 and normally engagedcontact of relay switch 106. Similarly, six output signal lines extendfrom the other decoding circuit 82. The total of 12 output signal linescorrespond to the 12 time periods aforementioned and by means of thedecoding circuits, a conductive path is established through one of the12 output signal lines from the reader component 40 dependent upon thecombination of notches on coded edge 60 detected by the reader componentas shown in the coding chart aforementioned.

The 12 signal output lines as shown in FIG. 4, are connected to astationary contact brush assembly 108 having 12 contacts in wipingengagement with a circuit selecting rotor 110 in the circuit selectorcomponent 50. The rotor is adapted to be driven by the clock drive 48synchronized with the clock drive 32 of the time encoding device in theticket dispenser 26. The rotor 110 is provided with wiping contacts soas to engage one of the 12 output signal contacts on the stationarybrush assembly l08dependent upon the angular position of the rotor. Therotor is also in wiping engagement with an annular brush assembly 112through which one of 12 pricing circuits are selected, said pricingcircuits being connected to the coin acceptor mechanism 52 and thedisplay panel 38 provided with a plurality of panel lamps 114. Thus, theangular position of the rotor reflecting the time at which a time codedcard is inserted into the reader 40, determines the elapsed time betweenencoding of the card and reading of the card to select a pricing circuitwhich is displayed by illumination of an appropriate panel lampindicating a corresponding parking charge and by setting of the coinmachine 34 through the coin acceptor mechanism 52. When a correspondingvalue of coinage is inserted into the coin acceptor mechanism 52, themultiprice accumulator 54 will be rendered operative to pulse the gateoperating solenoid 116 associated therewith resulting in opening of theexit gate 18 through its operating mechanism 16.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with an exit gate, power operating mechanism, recordreceiving means having a plurality of code sensing devices responsive toreception of a time encoded record medium for generating signals toregister entry time, and variable price control means operativelyconnected to the power operating mechanism for opening the gate inresponse to reception of a selected value of exchange medium, logicmeans operatively connecting the record receiving means to the pricecontrol means for selecting said value of exchange medium in accordancewith time elapsed since the entry time registered by the recordreceiving means, comprising a plurality of signal paths controllablyconnected to some of the code sensing devices, relay means connected tothe other of the code sensing devices for changing the signal paths towhich the first mentioned code sensing devices are connected, and timecontrolled selector means connected to said signal paths fortransmitting the signals to selected pricing circuits connected to thevariable price control means.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said record medium is a card onwhich entry time is recorded in code form.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said selector means includes astationary brush contact assembly to which said signal paths areconnected, a clock driven rotor having contacts in wiping engagementwith the brush contact assembly and a second brush contact assembly towhich the pricing circuits are connected and with which the contacts onthe rotor are engageable.

4. in combination with a cash acceptor mechanism to which a plurality ofpricing circuits are connected, means for selecting one of the pricingcircuits in accordance with time encoded on a record card, comprising atleast one decoding circuit for establishing a plurality of signal paths,time comparison means sequentially connecting said signal paths tocorresponding pricing circuits, and card reading means responsive toreception of the record card for selecting one of the signal paths, saidreading means including a source of current, a plurality of code sensingdevices connected in parallel to the decoding circuit and card sensingmeans responsive to detection of the record card for connecting thesource of current to the code sensing devices.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a second decoding circuitconnected to the time comparison means for establishing additionalsignal paths, said reading means including relay means responsive toactuation of one of the sensing devices for selecting one of thedecoding circuits to which the other of the sensing devices areconnected.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein each of said decoding circuitsincludes a plurality of relay devices respectively energized bydifferent ones of the sensing devices, each of the relay devices havingrelay switches, the relay switches of the respective relay devices beinginterconnected in series between the sensing devices and the timecomparison means to form said signal paths.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said time comparison meanscomprises a clock driven rotor and brush assemblies in wiping engagementwith the rotor and connected to the decoding and pricing circuits.

8. The combination of claim 4 wherein said decoding circuit includes aplurality of relay devices respectively energized by different ones ofthe sensing devices, each of the relay devices having relay switches,the relay switches of the respective relay devices being interconnectedin series between the

1. In combination with an exit gate, power operating mechanism, recordreceiving means having a plurality of code sensing devices responsive toreception of a time encoded record medium for generating signals toregister entry time, and variable price control means operativelyconnected to the power operating mechanism for opening the gate inresponse to reception of a selected value of exchange medium, logicmeans operatively connecting the record receiving means to the pricecontrol means for selecting said value of exchange medium in accordancewith time elapsed since the entry time regIstered by the recordreceiving means, comprising a plurality of signal paths controllablyconnected to some of the code sensing devices, relay means connected tothe other of the code sensing devices for changing the signal paths towhich the first mentioned code sensing devices are connected, and timecontrolled selector means connected to said signal paths fortransmitting the signals to selected pricing circuits connected to thevariable price control means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidrecord medium is a card on which entry time is recorded in code form. 3.The combination of claim 1 wherein said selector means includes astationary brush contact assembly to which said signal paths areconnected, a clock driven rotor having contacts in wiping engagementwith the brush contact assembly and a second brush contact assembly towhich the pricing circuits are connected and with which the contacts onthe rotor are engageable.
 4. In combination with a cash acceptormechanism to which a plurality of pricing circuits are connected, meansfor selecting one of the pricing circuits in accordance with timeencoded on a record card, comprising at least one decoding circuit forestablishing a plurality of signal paths, time comparison meanssequentially connecting said signal paths to corresponding pricingcircuits, and card reading means responsive to reception of the recordcard for selecting one of the signal paths, said reading means includinga source of current, a plurality of code sensing devices connected inparallel to the decoding circuit and card sensing means responsive todetection of the record card for connecting the source of current to thecode sensing devices.
 5. The combination of claim 4 including a seconddecoding circuit connected to the time comparison means for establishingadditional signal paths, said reading means including relay meansresponsive to actuation of one of the sensing devices for selecting oneof the decoding circuits to which the other of the sensing devices areconnected.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein each of said decodingcircuits includes a plurality of relay devices respectively energized bydifferent ones of the sensing devices, each of the relay devices havingrelay switches, the relay switches of the respective relay devices beinginterconnected in series between the sensing devices and the timecomparison means to form said signal paths.
 7. The combination of claim6 wherein said time comparison means comprises a clock driven rotor andbrush assemblies in wiping engagement with the rotor and connected tothe decoding and pricing circuits.
 8. The combination of claim 4 whereinsaid decoding circuit includes a plurality of relay devices respectivelyenergized by different one of the sensing devices, each of the relaydevices having relay switches, the relay switches of the respectiverelay devices being interconnected in series between the sensing devicesand the time comparison means to form said signal paths.
 9. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein said time comparison means comprises aclock driven rotor and brush assemblies in wiping engagement with therotor and connected to the decoding and pricing circuits.
 10. Thecombination of claim 9 for use in a controlled parking facility havingpower operated gates and a time encoding card dispenser synchronizedwith the clock driven rotor.